Valve overhauls Steam soundtrack system, no longer counts as DLC

Valve has announced that it has overhauled the soundtrack system on Steam meaning that going forward soundtrack will no longer be classed as DLC. Where soundtracks were classed as DLC you needed to own the game to purchase a soundtrack, and have that game downloaded to access the music as well. Now a new soundtrack app will allow people to purchase game music without having to have owned the accompanying game in the first place.

Valve details the changes below:

  • customers can now purchase soundtracks without purchasing the base game.
  • customers can now download soundtracks without downloading the base game.
  • customers can browse and manage their owned and downloaded soundtracks directly from the new Steam library.
  • customers can configure a Steam “music” directory where all soundtrack content will be placed, rather than having to locate it in subdirectories of game content.
  • developers can upload and manage soundtrack content entirely through the partner site, without using steamcmd.
  • developers can sell soundtracks where the base game itself is not available for sale on Steam.

In addition, buyers will be able to choose the file type they wish to download when it comes to the music. MP3 will be the standard but FLAC and raw WAV files will also be offered. Developers who already have soundtrack on the store as DLC can convert the content to the new format so appears in the soundtrack app. Soundtracks will also now be able to include additional content like artwork and notes.

Source: Valve

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From the heady days of the Mega Drive up until the modern day gaming has been my main hobby. I'll give almost any game a go.